Defence Minister: Armenia would not mind hosting Russian radar station on its territory

Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan would not mind hosting a Russian radar station on its territory, News-Armenia reported.

Due to the expiration of the 'Agreement on the status, principles and operating conditions of the Gabala radar station between the governments of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation', on December 9, 2012, the Russian side sent a note halting the operation of the radar station on December 10 last year.

"This is an internal task for every country. We watched the whole process and saw that both sides did not come to an understanding in the negotiations and operations at the Gabala radar station has been stopped," the minister said at a press conference on the year end totals.

He said the leadership and the Armed Forces of Russia have to decide the location of radar station on their own.

"As for our agreement or disagreement, we would not object to this," Ohanian said.

The Gabala radar station located in north-west Azerbaijan was built during the Soviet period as one of the most important elements of the USSR's missile defence system. After Azerbaijan gained independence, the radar station became the country's property and Russia continued to use it.